First Openly Gay (male) Federal Judge Confirmed

[Tx4obama]

Source: Think Progress

The Senate has just confirmed Paul Oetken to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Oetken is the first openly gay man to be successfully appointed to the federal bench.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2011/07/18/272338/first-openly-gay-federal-judge-confirmed/

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Related tweet from Senator Chuck Schumer: http://twitter.com/ChuckSchumer/status/93075173284134913
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5:32pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of J.Paul Oetken to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Confirmed: 80-13
http://democrats.senate.gov/2011/07/18/roll-call-vote-on-confirmation-of-oetken-nomination/

[Moosepoop]

1. K&R!

Loved Schumer's tweet:

@ChuckSchumer Chuck Schumer

Sen just confirmed my rec for fed bench- Paul Oetken, 1st openly gay man to ever be confirmed- living proof that #itgetsbetter

:)

[Tx4obama]

2. More info: Schumer regarding Oetken

SNIP

On January 26, 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Oetken to serve on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Oetken had been recommended to the post by New York Senator Charles Schumer. Oetken would replace Judge Denny Chin, whom Obama previously had elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Oetken is openly gay. Schumer had stated that diversity was a consideration in his recommendations for federal judgeships, and that he was "shocked to learn" that no openly gay men had served on the federal bench.

The full United States Senate confirmed Oetken on July 18, 2011 in an 80–13 vote. He currently is awaiting his judicial commission. Once he receives his judicial commission, Oetken will be the second openly gay Article III judge in the country, after Deborah Batts.

SNIP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Paul_Oetken#Nomination_to_federal_district_court

[Tx4obama]

3. Said Schumer on the Senate floor:

Said Schumer on the Senate floor:

“As the first openly gay man to be confirmed as a federal judge and to serve on the federal bench, he will be a symbol of how much we have achieved as a country in just the last few decades. And importantly, he will give hope to many talented young lawyers who, until now, thought their paths might be limited because of their sexual orientation. When Paul becomes Judge Oetken, he will be living proof to all those young lawyers that it really does get better.”

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/07/breaking-senate-confirms-first-openly-gay-man-to-federal-bench.html#ixzz1SV5XVLST

[Tx4obama]

4. The 13 'no' votes were ....

"Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) were the only no votes."

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2011/07/breaking-senate-confirms-first-openly-gay-man-to-federal-bench.html#ixzz1SV64yYUZ

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Did my other asshole senator...

(Cornyn) not vote? God, I hate this fucking state sometimes. Screw you Kay Bailey.

[Tx4obama]

7. The SEVEN (7) senators that did NOT VOTE were ....

Not Voting - 7

Hagan (D-NC)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Paul (R-KY)
Rubio (R-FL)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)

http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=1&vote=00112

[awoke_in_2003]

9. oh my...

Cornyn actually voted "yea"? I am absolutely floored. He is usually such a douchebag.

[Tx4obama]

10. Yep. Cornyn (R-TX) voted 'Yea'

I remember one time last year when KBHutchison voted yes with the dems on a women's issue (when just about all the other GOPers voted 'no') and it shocked me.
Every now and again the republicans will cast a surprising vote :)

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Another surprising thing about this confirmation vote was that it was not filibustered, so there wasn't a need for cloture vote which would have needed 60 yeah votes. There was only an up and down vote.

[N7Shepard]

6. Well, it's good that we will finally have a job who can be

unbiased in court cases regarding hetero relationships.

I mean after all, conservatives said gay judges couldn't be unbiased in cases regarding homosexuals, so it sounds like this guy is going to have his work cut out for him.

[Tx4obama]

8. Kicking up for the night crew :) n/t

[usregimechange]

11. Good news! kick